People often ask us what we do on our 'Action Days' and the answer is- help to look after the cemetery in a practical way! If you click on the Gallery – Action Days- there are photos which tell all!

Tasks range from litter picking to planting hedges with much more besides. Bulb planting, path edging, hedge trimming, gravel laying, bench preserving, the list goes on..... There is something to suit all abilities!

We meet at 10 am on the first Saturday of each month in the car park opposite the main gates. We are led by LCC Ranger Pete Banks. All tools are provided (as well as refreshments).

We generally finish around 2pm but you can stay for as long or as short a time as you want. We suggest you wear old gardening clothes and sturdy shoes!

The volunteers, many have been with us since the Friends started in 2011, are a very friendly and dedicated group and are always looking for more help. If you would like to give it a try, let us know by email friendsoflawnswoodcemetery@yahoo.co.uk You would be made very welcome.

Not just for a week but all year round many Cemetery Friends throughout the UK work hard to support council owners to keep local cemeteries tidy and safe. National Cemeteries Week provides an opportunity to highlight this work and appeal for more volunteers. The week links with the National Heritage weekends when the doors and gates of our country’s many historic sites are opened to the community with a special welcome, and cemeteries are now joining in.

It is always worth a visit to Lawnswood Cemetery at any time of the year. There is now a self guided walks leaflet, available from the waiting room below the Friends of Lawnswood Cemetery notice board, which will take you round some of the significant graves and monuments in the cemetery, including the Grade 11 listed Columbarium, chapels and crematorium and the four Grade 11 listed memorials. Pick up a free guide leaflet and walk round this magnificent treasure of Leeds !

A great time was had by all who attended our annual member’s Tea Party on Saturday - a cryptic quiz had everyone racking their brains and jealously guarding their answers!

This was followed by a delicious afternoon tea provided by the committee who did a wonderful job, and finally, a most interesting talk given by Janet Douglas on ‘Joseph Lupton – Unitarian and extreme Liberal’. It was a very pleasant afternoon. Summer Tea Party Photos

Saturday 17th June 2017, saw the Friends of Holbeck Cemetery open the gates to their wonderful cemetery and invited the Friends of Lawnswood in. The Friends of Holbeck Cemetery have been in existence since 2001. They took on a rather overgrown cemetery, but tackling the brambles was not the only thorn in their sides; anti-social behaviour within the area had a huge impact on the cemetery. It soon became apparent that their passion for the cemetery played a huge part in restoring it. Eve Tidswell treated us to some fascinating historical facts about the cemetery and its occupants.

Unfortunately, there was not enough time to show us all of these forgotten gems, but that gives us a great excuse to return. I would thoroughly recommend attended one of Eve’s the trips. Please visit their website for further information and don’t forget to view our gallery of photographs of our fascinating visit.